I SEE from their latest publication of intent that Arriva plan to withdraw, or severely reduce, the 232 bus service which connects Emley with both Huddersfield and Wakefield.
Connections at Horbury also allow us to travel to Dewsbury. From these primary destinations we then have access to all other West Yorkshire towns and cities as well as mainline railway stations.
Losing any part of this will mean that we have become more, or even totally, isolated from the rest of the county.
For years there has been a lack of so-called public transport to connect us to the rest of our parish area of Denby Dale. Those who do not have cars of their own have to hire taxis – or rely on those who do – to get to Skelmanthorpe to the nearest bank or council offices.
A similar situation occurs with getting to Middlestown or, again, Skelmanthorpe where our medical centres are based.
Losing the 232 and 231 services through Flockton will mean that Emley will then be completely cut off from all other ‘local’ towns and villages in the area. On top of the very restricted facilities available within the village, this could mean that all the older and disabled who live here will be confined to the village.
A lovely village it surely is, but restrictions of this nature are nothing short of heartless, particularly when imposed by a company for purely financial reasons with no acknowledgement of their public service responsibility.
Come on Metro. As the overseeing body you too have that public good to see to.
Every centre of population, no matter what its size, pays a share of national and local taxation. Through that they earn the right to at least a basic level of public transport.
With the current level of one bus an hour in each direction, there cannot be any less of a basic provision.
Colin I Hadfield
Emley
Time for long-term vision
WITH regard to the ‘Store Wars’ article on pages one and two of last Tuesday’s Examiner I see that Clr Sims is claiming that his decisions are perfect and he is above criticism.
Arrogance of this kind is unbecoming of such an experienced ex-member of Kirklees Cabinet.
If Asda had presented their proposals while he was in office what would he have done?
It sounds as though he would have rejected them out of hand without even considering them. If so, Asda would probably have lodged an appeal with the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government the very next morning and Kirklees would be fighting yet another expensive legal battle.
As for Clr Dodds’ claim that the new administration has ‘dillied and dallied’ may I remind him and Clr Sims that although the Design Report on the Queensgate Revival project was published by the architects Leslie Jones in September 2006, the scheme was not presented to the public until 2008.
‘Dillying and dallying’ by the Conservatives, perhaps? And when the scheme finally appeared, it was criticised by English Heritage, the Commission for Architecture And The Built Environment and distinguished architect Irena Bauman as being run-of-the-mill and unimaginative.
The new administration now has a golden opportunity to re-examine all the schemes connected with Huddersfield’s regeneration and develop a bold, imaginative, forward-looking plan for the whole town centre, in contrast to the Conservatives’ piecemeal approach.
This should be a plan which meets the needs of Huddersfield’s people, not just Kirklees’ need for business rates income.
William A Kirby
Netherton
Need for political clarity
LAST Monday’s Examiner reported on the ‘war of words’ over the controversial plans to build thousands of homes.
I am sorry to say it, but the Lib Dem side of the article was very misleading as it led readers to believe that Lib Dem party policy had changed and that they were now opposed to all the current LDF options.
Apparently not so, according to Lib Dem councillor Nicola Turner on Tuesday: “The Lib Dem group are currently working on a policy for the LDF for the whole of Kirklees.”
So the reported Lib Dem views were merely the private views of the Colne Valley group of Lib Dem councillors and therefore not on a par with the comments of the Conservative and Labour party leaders in the same article.
Now, as Colne Valley residents, we are delighted that, after a very long struggle, our elected local Lib Dem councillors have finally decided to get off the fence and support local people in their fight against the ludicrous excesses of the Local Development Framework.
However, what is really important now is that all Lib Dem councillors join their Colne Valley colleagues in the fight against the LDF.
So can we ask Clr Kath Pinnock a simple direct question – “What is the Lib Dem policy on the LDF and will all Lib Dem Councillors join their Colne Valley colleagues in the fight against the LDF proposals?”
And if not, why not?
Lingards Community Association
Slaithwaite
General Election now
WE need a general election now so that we can deliver a verdict upon our local MPs. I have been dismayed by their arrogant, public attempts to vindicate their activities. I, for one, would recommend disposing of the freeloading ethos of the existing Parliamentary system in favour of electing a Government which would pioneer electoral reform that can help restore faith in the democratic system.
Andrew S Crines
Huddersfield
Country estate ‘torture’
IS the countryside around you safe?
The most likely answer to this is probably not, as revealed in a new report by the League Against Cruel Sports.
War on Wildlife, released this week, highlights the shameful tactics being carried out on many sporting estates up and down the country where wildlife is being systematically slaughtered to protect gamebirds being reared for shooting.
Over the last two years League investigators have found sickening evidence of animal suffering and death on many estates with snares being responsible for much of the torture.
These silent killers are claiming the lives of thousands of animals including protected species like badgers and otters and even domestic pets like cats and dogs.
Mass slaughter on this scale is not acceptable and the League is stepping up its campaign for a ban on snares.
We urge readers to contact their MP to voice support for a complete ban on the use of such primitive and outdated traps in our countryside.
Katy Roberts
Shooting Campaigner, League Against Cruel Sports
Local shop socialising
STAN Solomons’ letter (Ideas for town centre, Mailbag, Wednesday) contains so many self-contradictions and so much misinformation that it hardly warrants a reply, save for ‘so what’ if my wife has to visit 14 shops.
‘So what’ – because she’s an intelligent and active woman with better things so do than “watch the assistant measure out butter and cheese” as Mr Solomons so fondly reminisces about.
What is telling is that Mr Solomons hopes that socialising will go on in village shops – could this be his real motivation behind “saving” the Tourist Information Office?
That – like many other people with Post Offices – he thinks they’re all an extension of the Darby and Joan Club, existing mainly as old folk’s social centres?
Well, Stan?
Richard Huddleston
West Slaithwaite
Cost of privatisation
MIGHT I add a comment on the letter from Allen Jenkinson regarding Maggie Thatcher.
Let’s not forget that her wretched Government privatised our essential public services such as water, gas and electricity with the result that we are all now having to pay more to satisfy ‘investors’, most of whom are foreign.
And then how could she ever justify privatising British Railways when ticket prices are ever rising?
Martin Noble
Brockholes
Rare sight at Aspley
AS I was driving home from work I came across a sight I have never seen before.
At the top of St Andrews Rd, looking down Firth Street, a large mill has been knocked down. The view now is of a lovely weeping willow and the new Canalside East building belonging to the university. Have a look at a sight that might not be there for long.
Ian Saxton
Holme
Control MPs expenses
ONE way of controlling MPs excesses may be having their expenses and allowances claims funded from local taxation by the constituencies that elected them.
That way, systemic greed would no longer be seen as victimless crime.
Allen Jenkinson
Milnsbridge
